Your visit

Make sure you’ve planned enough time in your day to reach and attend your dental appointment with us. It’ll only add to any anxiety if you’re in a rush.

If we know you and we see you regularly, a routine check-up or hygiene appointment should be relatively straightforward.

More complex treatments are planned in advance, so you’ll know roughly how long your appointment will last.

If it’s your first visit, or you haven’t seen the dentist for a long time, you can expect to be in the chair a little longer.

If you won’t be able to make your appointment, or you’re running late, please let us know as soon as possible – that way we’ll be able to reschedule things and help you to avoid additional fees.

First visit? You’ll receive a link to your patient portal to complete a questionnaire about your health and any medication you take, to fill in at your leisure. Alternatively, you can complete this questionnaire at the practice, just make sure you come in a little earlier.

Your contact details – make sure we’ve got your current information so we can stay in touch. To help you, we’ll send you a reminder before any upcoming appointments.

Once you’re in the treatment room, you’ll be invited to take a seat in a dental chair.

Depending on the treatment you need, you may have a small protective sheet placed over your chest and you’ll be asked to wear some protective eyewear.

You’re likely to see a tray of metal tools, as well as scaling, ultrasonic, suction, and other equipment, used to inspect and clean your teeth.

Some of our tools are single-use and disposable, including needles and many sharp items. For everything else, we follow a strict cross-infection control policy, and employ professional sterilisation methods.

Your dentist or hygienist will ask about your oral health and whether you’ve noticed any changes since your last visit.

If there’s anything you’re concerned about, or would like to discuss, just let us know. We can book you in for a follow up appointment if we won’t have time to address any concerns there and then.

We’ll then proceed with your check-up or clean.

You might notice your dentist calling out some numbers as they go along. The nurse uses this information to chart your teeth and their condition on your dental record. That way, we’ll be able to monitor any changes over time.

When you’re all done, you might need to rinse out your mouth – the attending nurse will be ready and waiting to help and clear everything away.

Finally, your dentist or hygienist will talk to you about any areas of concern and treatment you might like to consider. Hopefully though, you’ll get a clean bill of oral health.

You’ll be offered screening x-rays – usually every two years – which can help us to spot any potential problems which aren’t visible to the naked eye. You may need more regular x-rays if you’re undergoing treatment and we need to check on your progress.

If you’ve booked an appointment to start, continue or complete a course of treatment, many of the steps are the same as a routine appointment.

Once you’re in the treatment room, you’ll be invited to take a seat in our reclining dental chair.

Depending on the treatment you need, you might have a small protective sheet placed over your chest and you’ll be asked to wear some protective eyewear.

You’re likely to see a tray of metal tools, as well as scaling, ultrasonic, suction, and other equipment, used to complete the treatment you need.

Some of our tools are single-use and disposable, including needles and many sharp items. For everything else, we follow a strict cross-infection control policy, and employ professional sterilisation methods.

Your dentist or hygienist will ask about your oral health and explain the treatment you’ll be having on that day.

If there’s anything you’re concerned about, or would like to discuss, just let us know. We can book you in for a follow up appointment if we won’t have time to address any concerns there and then.

Once you’ve given the go-ahead, we’ll start your treatment.

For things like crowns, aligners, and dentures, we may need to take impressions or scans of your teeth. We work closely with our laboratory friends, who produce the dental appliances we fit. In these situations, you’ll need a follow-up appointment.

When you’re all done, you might need to rinse out your mouth – the attending nurse will be ready and waiting to help and clear everything away.

Finally, your dentist or hygienist will talk to you about next steps, or further treatment you might like to consider.

You’ll be offered x-rays – usually every two years – which can help us to spot any potential problems which aren’t visible to the naked eye. You may need more regular x-rays if you’re undergoing treatment and we need to check on your progress.

When your treatment plan is complete, all that’s left to do is give us a smile.

When you leave the treatment room simply return to the reception area to arrange your next appointment. To limit travel, we’re always happy to book in family appointments, or dental and hygiene appointments back-to-back.

You’ll also need to pay for any treatment you’ve received.

Payment options and plans

We stock many useful dental care products at the reception desk, so why not have a little browse?

Make sure you follow any advice you’ve been given to care for your teeth and gums, whether that’s everyday brushing and flossing, or post-treatment care.

Hopefully there won’t be any adverse after-effects, but any discomfort should be manageable with over-the-counter pain relief.

If things don’t settle down, make sure you contact us for help and support.

We do offer daytime emergency support 7 days a week, all year round. After working hours, if you need urgent care, make sure you seek medical assistance.

If you’re dentally fit and well, we’d expect to see you again in around 6-12 months for another routine appointment.

If you need treatment, your dentist will recommend a plan, dealing with the most urgent care needs first. In this situation, you’ll need an appointment sooner.

Whichever treatment path you choose to follow, we’ll explain the processes and costs at each stage, so you know what to expect.

More about treatments